POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa: Joe Root believes England are up to the challenge of beating South Africa in a Test series for the first time in a decade.
Root, who has yet to play a Test against South Africa, will be one of England’s key players as the number two-ranked batsman in the world and he is predicting an “entertaining spectacle” between the two sides with clear strengths and weaknesses.
England have arrived in South Africa and begun preparations for the four-Test series by taking on an Invitational XI in Pochesfstroom.
Among their first concerns will be settling on a new combination at the top of the order - likely Alex Hales opening alongside Cook with Nick Compton at No. 3 - and establishing the identity of the third seamer behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
South Africa have issues of their own to deal with after a chastening 3-0 defeat in India, with coach Russell Domingo admitting “there is a lot of work to do”. Aside from a batting order struggling for form, Vernon Philander suffered ankle ligament damage that will keep him out of the first two Tests and Dale Steyn is also a fitness concern after hurting his groin in Mohali last month.
They will still be able to call on Morne Morkel, along with the talented Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada, who will present a significant challenge on faster, bouncier surfaces than England are used to.
Root said that the fast-bowling contest could be what ultimately decides the series.
“It should be a really entertaining spectacle, with their attack and our attack as well, in those conditions,” he said. “I am looking forward to getting out there and being a part of it,” he added.
Asked if England could win away from home against the top-ranked Test side, he replied: “Absolutely, yeah. I think it’s going to be a really close series and a really interesting battle with the two seam attacks. The way Stuart and Jimmy lead our attack, with some very exciting guys below them as well, it could be an interesting battle against the number one side in the world,” he said.
England last played South Africa in 2012, when a 2-0 home defeat hastened the retirement of Andrew Strauss and led to Cook’s elevation to the Test captaincy. They have not beaten South Africa since 2004-05 - with Anderson the only survivor from that tour - and have not won a Test series overseas since India in the winter of 2012.
A successful start for Cook as Test captain was followed by a nightmarish year in which England suffered a 5-0 Ashes whitewash, lost at home to Sri Lanka and tentatively began to rebuild after the loss of several key players. Cook contemplated giving up the captaincy (and was also sacked from the role in ODIs), but his authority has never been stronger after England regained the Ashes with a 3-2 win earlier this year.
